Jersey City school board punts on superintendent search

Amy Sara Clark/The Jersey JournalJersey City Schools Superintendent Dr. Charles Epps Jr. and William DeRosa, Jersey City Board of Education President at the August 11 meeting.

Boards of education, we’re discovering, are misnomers, because often they don’t make educated decisions at all.

They have handed out ridiculously costly raises and benefits to teachers in the midst of economic peril. They have driven up the salaries of superintendents by bidding against each other. They have criticized town councils for cutting school budgets that were resoundingly rejected by voters. They looked the other way when protesting students walked out of class last spring.

And now, the Jersey City board of education appears on the verge of extending the contract of superintendent Charles Epps Jr. on Thursday night without a search to find a possibly better — and more reasonably priced — candidate.

Add it to the list.

Epps’ supporters say the call for a search is racially motivated. (Epps is African-American.) But that rings hollow because Epps has said a search is probably wise, and because a search is likely to produce minority candidates. In fact, the board should make certain of that.

Those backing Epps say a search would be a waste of money. But they’re okay with his $268,200-a-year salary, a car and cell phone on the district’s tab, a $10,000 annual annuity and approximately 500 redeemable sicks days worth $86,000. His contract, if extended by the board for two years as expected, then would require the approval of the Hudson County superintendent of schools.

Supporters say Epps is worth all that. But he’s been superintendent for the past 10 years and progress has been slow. Twenty-six of his 37 schools failed last year to make “adequate yearly progress,” according to federal standards. One middle school, where only 32 percent of children are proficient in English and 25 percent in math, has missed the goal nine years straight. That’s not good enough to close the door on other candidates before even looking.

“Nobody in their right mind would rehire someone who has failing performance without even a cursory look at who else is out there,” said Steven Fulop, a city councilman.

Education commissioner and former Jersey City mayor Bret Schundler encouraged the board to conduct a national search. That would give the board (and taxpayers) perspective on the talent available and leverage in getting a better deal.